Acceptability of a vaginal microbicide among female sex workers

Citation
G. Ramjee et al., Acceptability of a vaginal microbicide among female sex workers, S AFR MED J, 89(6), 1999, pp. 673-676
Citations number
12
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
General & Internal Medicine
Journal title
SOUTH AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNAL
ISSN journal
0256-9574 → ACNP
Volume
89
Issue
6
Year of publication
1999
Pages
673 - 676
Database
ISI
SICI code
0256-9574(199906)89:6<673:AOAVMA>2.0.ZU;2-K
Abstract
Objectives. A short study was undertaken to assess the acceptability and sh ort-term safety of a vaginal microbicide (COL-1492) and its compatibility w ith the preference for dry sex among sex workers at truck stops in KwaZulu- Natal. Design. A randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial was conducted fr om March to July 1996. Setting. Truckstops in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Participants. Twenty sex workers. The participants were assigned to either COL-1492 (which contains 52.5 mg of nonoxynol 9) or a placebo. The first mo nth of use was followed by a 1-month washout period; thereafter the women w ho had used the COL-1492 used the placebo land vice versa) during the third month. Baseline and fortnightly assessment included microbiology and serol ogy for sexually transmitted diseases, questionnaires to assess acceptabili ty of COL-1492, and a clinical examination by colposcopy. Outcome measures. Acceptability of the product/placebo and short-term safet y of the product. Results and conclusion. Our study revealed that while on COL-1492, 19 of th e 20 women found the product to be entirely satisfactory. On colposcopy, si milar lesions were found in the women who were using COL-1492 and those usi ng placebo. This study has shown that COL-1492 was found to be acceptable b y sex workers. COL-1492 was not associated with more colposcopic changes in the vagina and cervix compared with placebo. It was concluded that conditi ons are conducive within this cohort of sex workers for a COL-1492 efficacy trial.